Republican Lawmakers Use Antisemitism as a Political Tool...Again.
On July 10, 2020, Republican members of Congress signed an open letter lobbing false charges of antisemitism at their Democrat colleagues who strongly opposed the State of Israel’s plans to annex the West Bank.
The open letter from Republicans, signed by Republican Reps. Scott Perry (PA), Andy Harris (MD), Scott DesJarlais (TN), Ron Wright (TX), Jody Hice (GA), Paul Gosar (AZ), Randy Weber (TX), Russ Fulcher (ID), Jeff Duncan (SC), Tedd Budd (NC), Denver Riggleman (VA), and Andy Biggs (AZ), was posted to Twitter by Rep. Perry with the caption, “America’s policy toward Israel won’t be driven by the Left’s prejudice.”
The GOP’s letter came in response to one drafted by Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Pramila Jayapal (WA), Rashida Tlaib (MI), and Betty McCollum (MN), and signed by Ilhan Omar (MN), Ayanna Pressley (MA), Raul Grijalva (AZ), André Carson (IN), Nydia Velázquez (NY), Bobby Rush (IL), Jesús “Chuy” Garcia (IL), Danny Davis (IL), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). This letter called for the United States to condition aid to Israel if annexation were to proceed:
“We cannot support an undemocratic system in which Israel would permanently rule over a Palestinian people denied self-determination or equal rights.”
"Should the Israeli government move forward with the planned annexation with this administration’s acquiescence, we will work to ensure non-recognition as well as pursue conditions on the $3.8 billion in US military funding to Israel, including human rights conditions."
Perry’s tweet is an example of the GOP’s exploitative use of the charge of antisemitism. These false accusations muddy the waters by conflating legitimate and consistent policy demands rooted in valid criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Republican politicians often cynically use their unconditional support for the State of Israel as cover for the antisemitism regularly promoted by members of their party, and even themselves.
Rep. Biggs (R-AZ), in particular, one of the signers of the Perry letter, has a history of enabling antisemitism. Notably, Biggs, along with fellow signers Duncan (SC) and Budd (NC), was also among the 23 Republicans who voted against a House resolution to condemn antisemitism and other forms of bigotry.